Sacked paramedic Bryce Duggan vows to appeal after he removed ping-pong ball from patient

A paramedic who was sacked after he removed a ping-pong ball from patient has vowed to appeal his dismissal. Here’s what he said.

DVG Pics. Bryce Duggan has been an Ambulance Officer in the Derwent Valley for 40 years. He is pictured at the Ambulance Station, Circle Street, New Norfolk. PIC: MATT THOMPSON

A long-time New Norfolk paramedic who was sacked earlier this year is launching an appeal over the state industrial commission’s finding, saying “indisputable evidence” wasn’t addressed in his hearing.

Bryce Duggan spent 45 years as a paramedic with Ambulance Tasmania, being called out to jobs of varying degrees around the south of the state.

However, one job at Old Beach in December 2020 led to his sacking in June 2022 and a failed unfair dismissal case heard by the Tasmanian Industrial Commission (TIC).

On December 13, 2020, at 4.40am, Mr Duggan alongside a female volunteer ambulance officer was called to provide assistance to a patient with a ping-pong ball stuck in her vagina for five-and-a-half hours.

Both Mr Duggan, accompanied by the officer, tried to remove the ball using Magill forceps, typically used to remove objects in the mouth and throat.

Pride of Australia Medal 2010, Tasmanian nominee in the Heroism category, ambulance officer and paramedic Bryce Duggan

However, Ambulance Tasmania asserted that this action was performed outside of Mr Duggan’s authority of practice and was a valid reason for termination.

TIC president David Barclay upheld Mr Duggan’s termination, stating trying to remove the ball was outside his ‘scope of practice’ and using an inappropriate instrument, also noting a history of “inappropriate or questionable conduct” at work.

Mr Duggan now plans to appeal to the full commission on their decision, stating the stance taken by Ambulance Tasmania did not follow its own guidelines.

“They criticised me for using the forceps and even attempting to take out the ball, stating that it was not within my scope of practice,” he said.

“Our own Clinical Practice Guideline book states that we need to modify and adapt to each patient and their circumstances for treatment before following our seven-step clinical approach.”

What is missing from the guidelines, a book given to paramedics to keep with them while working, is a practice guidelines for moving foreign objects.

“The patient was adamant that she would not go to hospital,” Mr Duggan said.

“The patient begged me to look and see what I could do and, under the consent of the patient and the supervision of a female volunteer officer, I did that.

“When I could not remove it, I told the patient she had to go to hospital.”

DVG Pics. The Lions Club of New Norfolk is donating teddy bears to all of the emergency services (Fire, Police, Ambulance, SES) in New Norfolk. Pictured at the Fire Station is (L-R) Bryce Duggan (Intensive Care Paramedic) inside the Ambulance with some of the donated teddy bears. Donor and Lion Dick Andrew (far left). PICTURE: MATT THOMPSON

The patient was not called to give evidence at the TIC unfair dismissal hearing, something Mr Duggan hopes to pursue.

Through his lawyer Stuart Wright, Mr Duggan received a statutory declaration from the patient in question in which she stated she wanted the paramedics that attended her property to get the ball out as she was in some pain. The declaration goes on to state that she did not feel uncomfortable at any time.

“That’s indisputable evidence – you can’t say it was inappropriate conduct when the patient themselves found no issue,” Mr Duggan said.

For now, it is a waiting game for Mr Duggan, who simply wants his job back.

“I love my job and I love serving the community and helping wherever I can,” he said.

Ambulance Tasmania was contacted for comment, but stated it was unable to speak on “individual employee matters in the Tasmanian Industrial Commission”.